Roofing cap or shell.



No, 673,966. Patented May 14, I90l. w. r. noszmsou. I

ROOFING CAP 0B SHELL.

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1999.)

(No Model.)

Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. ROBERTSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ROOFING CAP OR SHELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 673,966, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed March 20, 1899.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that 1, WILLIAM F. ROBERTSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roofing Caps or Shells, of which the following is a specification.

The roofing to which my invention is primarily applicable consists of sheets of paper or other textilefabrics.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a cap for holding together sheets of roofing which shall present a long retaining edge along by the edge of the overlapping sheet, and thus the better hold down the roofing-sheet and at the same time present a cap embossed to shed the rain.

Another prominent object of my invention is to provide novel and valuable improvements in roofing-caps-to wit, one or more depressions forming conjointly one depression for preventing the water from standing around the hole through which the nail passes and for conducting the water away therefrom.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this application, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure l is a plan view of a roofing-cap illustrating my invention and embodying the preferred shape in outline, as hereinafter specified. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the devices shown in Fig. 1 and taken in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical section of the devices shown in Fig. 1 and taken in the plane of the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent plan views of caps indicating modifications of my invention, as hereinafter particularly specified.

A indicates the under sheet of roofing, and B indicates the upper one-viz., that one which overlaps. I

0 indicates a cap. I so form this cap that it has a straight edge next to the edge of the roofing-sheet that overlaps the sheet below.

Serial No. 709,766. \NO model.)

In the preferred form of the cap the remainder of the outline is substantially that of a part of a circle,approximately that of a semicircle. That part of the cap immediately adjoining the edge of the cap is slanting toward its edge, thus forming a border 0 so that it draws down flat, or preferably nearly so, when the nail is driven, and the edge will thus always press against the sheet of roofing and not upturn. Within this border the cap is raised or stamped up, presenting, as looked down upon, an embossed surface 0 This embossed surface is provided with one or more depressions, preferably formed as follows: There isa central depression D. Through the metal of this depression the nail E, securing the cap to .the roof and for clamping the roofing-sheets to the roof between the cap and the roof, is driven. There are also preferably two depressions D D and a third depression D Each of these extends from the central depression D to the fiat border 0 Each depression D extends from the central depression D to the side of the adjacent corner of the cap and next to the straight edge of the latter, substantially as shown. The depression D extends from the central depression D to the middle of the rear side (or edge) of the cap and farthest from the straight edge. The several depressions and their general shape and the form of the embossed or raised parts are well shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.

Some of the advantages resulting from my invention are as followszlVIy invention reduces the number of caps needed to a minimum. The straight edge being everywhere near the edge of the roofing-sheet is utilized forits whole length in holding down the roofing-sheet, and the cap is for its length in close depression D,resting against the roofing-sheet A, is afforded for the nail-head E to rest against. There is no tendency of the edge of the cap to rise up when the nail E is driven to place. (See Figs. 1, 2, and There are several functions which the ridges perform,

among which may be noted, viz: The ridges constitute bearings and keep water away from the nail-hole should it get under the cap from the edge by any accident. The ridges aid in carrying off the water. The indentation formed to receive the nail will when the roof" is painted hold plenty of paint to make it water-tight around the nail head. Thus the paint settling there seals the opening through the cap around the nail-head, and the water gathering in this depression will flow out along in the depressions D D and D The de: pressions are so arranged that the cap may be nailed on in any position and water entering any of the depressions would be carried off through another depression or depressions. Some of the water flowing down the roof will enter the depression D and flow into depression D. Thence it is conducted down the roof by the gutter or leader depressions D D These central indentations enable shorter nails to be used than would be the case were the indentation absent. In regard to drainage it will be observed that my cap presents a minimum edge for the water to follow.

In Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings I have shown various modified forms of the cap. All of these embody the feature of the straight edge adjacent to that edge of the upper roofing-sheet which lies upon the lower roofing-sheet, and this straight edge of the cap is substantially parallel to such edge of the upper roofing-sheet. All of these caps possess the feature of araised or central portion surrounded by av fiat border with or without ribs or depressions.

The cap shown in Fig. 5 is rectangular. In the cap Fig. 5 there is present a central depression D for the nail, and connected therewith are the two canal or leader depressions D D D D each leading to points, respectively, near to its adjacent corner of the cap, but to one side thereof, as hereinafter indicated.

Fig. 6 presents a picture of a cap of a triangular form. The cap shown in Fig. 6 has depressions similar to those shown in the cap represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Fig. 4 shows a cap similar in outline to that shown in Fig. 1, but from which depressions have been omitted.

Under the general feature or features of my invention details may be varied; but a construction substantially such as the specific one shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is the one which I much prefer.

Inasmuch as a large amount of the sheetroofing now applied to roofs consists of very thin paper liable to turn up at the overlapping edge under various influences, the advantage of my invention is in that connection especially apparent.

In relation to the modification shown in Fig. 7 it is to be noted that round plain embossed caps have been in use heretofore, and the figure is intended to show the application to the rounded cap of those features of my invention heretofore described as ribs and gutters.

It is to be understood that by the term straight as applied in this specification to the edge I mean an edge substantially straight. Embossing the cap draws the straight edge in a little. So, also, minute indentations or serrations of the edge would not affect the general character of the straight edge I have invented and would, though not desirable, be included within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A roofing-cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing, near that edge of the latter which overlaps the under sheet of roofing, and to lie substantially parallel to the latter, a border for the cap, and the part within the border be ing raised, the latter being provided with a central depression and one or more depressions extending from there to the borders of the cap, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. A roofing-cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing, near that edge of the latter which overlaps the under sheet of roofing, and to lie substantially parallel to the latter, the border of the cap being substantially as specified, and the part within the border being raised, the outline of the cap, except the straight edge being semicircular, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. A roofing-cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing, near that edge of the latter which overlaps the under sheet of roofing, and to lie substantially parallel to the latter, the border of the cap being formed substantially as set forth, and the part within the border being raised, the outline of the cap, except the straight edge, being semicircular, and the cap being provided with a central depression and depressions extending from there to the borders of the cap, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4.. A roofing-cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing, near that edge of the latter which overlaps the under sheet of roofing, and to lie substantially parallel to the latter, the border of the cap being formed substantially as described, and the part within the border being raised, the outline of the cap, except the straight edge, being semicircular, and the cap being provided with a central depression D, and the two depressions extending thence to points respectively near the opposite corners of the cap, where the straight edge thereof meets the semicircular portion thereof, and another depression extending from the central depression to about the middle of the semicircular edge thereof, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. An embossed roofing cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing near that edge of the latter which overlaps the under sheet of roofing, and to lie substantially parallel to the latter, the embossed portion of the cap being provided With one or more depressions, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. An embossed roofing cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing near that edge of the latter which overlaps the under sheet of roofing, and to lie substantially parallel to the latter, the embossed portion being provided with a central depression, one or more depressions extending from there to the borders of the cap,

substantially as and for the purposes specifled.

7. An embossed roofing cap having a straight edge adapted to rest upon the upper sheet of roofing substantially as described, the outline of the cap, except the straight edge, being semicircular, the cap being provided with a central depression and depressions extending from there to the borders of the cap, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

WILLIAM F. ROBERTSON. Attest:

SAMUEL A. WEST, K. SMITH. 

